Apple's retail SVP Angela Ahrendts opened up this week about the runaway growth of Apple's retail presence across the world, but perhaps nowhere more significantly than on Chinese soil.

"We are opening five new stores before the Chinese New Year this year. Four of the stores are in brand new cities for us," Ahrendts was quoted by Chinese media outlet Xinhua. While the exec didn't spill any new beans, her comments come as confirmation of the company's laser-like focus on the region.

Only a dew short months ago, Apple CEO Tim Cook stated that the company would open at least three dozen new retail stores in China by 2017. This effort should also go along way to curb the rash of fake Apple products being peddled throughout the world's most populous mobile community.

Later this month, when Apple reports earnings for the fourth quarter of 2014 (the company's Q1 of 2015) , the iDevice maker is expected to affirm speculation that Apple enjoyed record iPhone sales in China, setting up what could be unprecedented sales momentum across Asia for Apple in this new year.